PM’s Punjab visit cancelled; MHA seeks report from State
In a “major security lapse”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s convoy was stranded on a flyover due to a blockade by protesters in Ferozepur on Wednesday after which he returned from poll-bound Punjab without attending any event, including a rally.
The Union Home Ministry directed the State government to file an immediate report, saying it did not ensure the required deployment, while Home Minister Amit Shah said that such dereliction of the security procedure during the Prime Minister’s visit is totally unacceptable and accountability will be fixed.
The incident triggered a major political row as the BJP alleged the ruling Congress in Punjab “tried to physically harm” the Prime Minister, while other parties too attacked the state government over the law and order issue. On the defensive, Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi at a press conference denied there was any security lapse or political motive behind it and said his government was ready for an inquiry. In Delhi, Congress’ chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala hit back at the BJP, claiming Prime Minister Modi skipped the rally in Ferozepur as there were no crowds and asked the saffron party to introspect. Channi too claimed that the turnout was low at the Ferozepur rally.
Modi who landed in Bathinda had to take the road route to the National Martyrs Memorial at Hussainiwala in Ferozepurb because of inclement weather. When the convoy reached near village Piareana on Ferozepur-Moga road, around 30 km away from the National Martyrs Memorial in Hussainiwala, some protesters blocked the road following which the PM’s cavalcade was halted for almost 1520 minutes on a flyover.